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World Debate: Can Chile Reach Their Peak At The World Cup?
La Roja are a step away from booking their ticket to the World Cup and morale is extremely high. Gregory Sica asks could Chile make an impact at the World Cup...
Since Marcelo Bielsa was appointed the coach of Chile to confront the 2010 World Cup qualifiers he has transformed Chilean football for the better. Unlike his predecessors, the former Argentina boss has been able to get the most out of an undisciplined bunch of players and their outstanding progress means Chile are on the verge of qualifying for their first World Cup since 1998.
With only a handful of games left in the qualifiers, Chile find themselves locked in second place with 26 points, one point less than group leaders Brazil, with 27 points. La Roja have proved to be one of the most consistent teams of the qualifiers, and they also play one of the most attractive styles of football.
But reaching this level hasn't been easy, and most of the credit should go to Bielsa. In the 2007 Copa America in Venezuela Chile completely lost the plot and although they reached the quarter-finals as the best third-placed team of their group, they were thrashed 6-1 by Brazil. Such a defeat wasn't taken lightly by the Chilean Football Association and they knew that drastic measures needed to be taken ahead of the World Cup qualifiers.
Nelson Acosta's era had come to an abrupt end, and after a long search in August 2007 Bielsa was officially named Chile's new coach. "El Loco" had been praised for his work as the coach of Argentina, even if it didn't always produce favourable results, and Chile were hoping that he'd be able to find a way to lead the national team into the right direction.
After a relatively slow start to the World Cup qualifiers, Bielsa has been able to guide Chile to unprecedented success, and what has been particularly impressive is the fact that Chile play in the same manner in both home and away games. In South America it isn't easy to pick up results when on the road, but Chile has managed to do this without too many problems.
With the emergence of so many talented players, including Alexis Sanchez, Humberto Suazo, Matias Fernandez, Gary Medel and Jean Beausejour Chile were always going to have enormous potential, but they lacked a coach with the necessary intelligence to get the most out of the players. Bielsa has done just this and has worked wonders with the national side.
Traditionally Bielsa's teams have played entertaining attacking football, and the coach has been able to achieve this with Chile as well. Chile are an explosive side, who pressure their opponents with forceful football. But as well as this Bielsa has given them a winning mentality, and this has been in evidence throughout the qualifiers.
It is almost a formality that Chile will qualify for South Africa, and this will be a great achievement after so many complicated years, but the potential in the squad suggests that Chile could make a stand in the World Cup.
Apart from Brazil and Argentina no South American team has reached the decisive stages of the tournament in recent years, and Chile will be hoping to break this negative statistic. They certainly have the right players and coach to do so, and will intend to translate their qualifying campaign success into the World Cup itself.
Until now Chile's best performance in a World Cup was when they claimed third place when they hosted the tournament back in 1962. The last time they participated in a World Cup was in 1998 when the tournament was held in France. Chile reached the second round, but were eliminated by eventual finalists Brazil.
Gregory Sica, Goal.com
Bielsa has done a great job with this team and I think for sure they will make a postive impression next year in South Africa but if they run into a counter attacking european team I can see them struggle. Brazil who were so poor at the time beat them 3-0 because they are open for direct teams.
La Roja are a step away from booking their ticket to the World Cup and morale is extremely high. Gregory Sica asks could Chile make an impact at the World Cup...
Since Marcelo Bielsa was appointed the coach of Chile to confront the 2010 World Cup qualifiers he has transformed Chilean football for the better. Unlike his predecessors, the former Argentina boss has been able to get the most out of an undisciplined bunch of players and their outstanding progress means Chile are on the verge of qualifying for their first World Cup since 1998.
With only a handful of games left in the qualifiers, Chile find themselves locked in second place with 26 points, one point less than group leaders Brazil, with 27 points. La Roja have proved to be one of the most consistent teams of the qualifiers, and they also play one of the most attractive styles of football.
But reaching this level hasn't been easy, and most of the credit should go to Bielsa. In the 2007 Copa America in Venezuela Chile completely lost the plot and although they reached the quarter-finals as the best third-placed team of their group, they were thrashed 6-1 by Brazil. Such a defeat wasn't taken lightly by the Chilean Football Association and they knew that drastic measures needed to be taken ahead of the World Cup qualifiers.
Nelson Acosta's era had come to an abrupt end, and after a long search in August 2007 Bielsa was officially named Chile's new coach. "El Loco" had been praised for his work as the coach of Argentina, even if it didn't always produce favourable results, and Chile were hoping that he'd be able to find a way to lead the national team into the right direction.
After a relatively slow start to the World Cup qualifiers, Bielsa has been able to guide Chile to unprecedented success, and what has been particularly impressive is the fact that Chile play in the same manner in both home and away games. In South America it isn't easy to pick up results when on the road, but Chile has managed to do this without too many problems.
With the emergence of so many talented players, including Alexis Sanchez, Humberto Suazo, Matias Fernandez, Gary Medel and Jean Beausejour Chile were always going to have enormous potential, but they lacked a coach with the necessary intelligence to get the most out of the players. Bielsa has done just this and has worked wonders with the national side.
Traditionally Bielsa's teams have played entertaining attacking football, and the coach has been able to achieve this with Chile as well. Chile are an explosive side, who pressure their opponents with forceful football. But as well as this Bielsa has given them a winning mentality, and this has been in evidence throughout the qualifiers.
It is almost a formality that Chile will qualify for South Africa, and this will be a great achievement after so many complicated years, but the potential in the squad suggests that Chile could make a stand in the World Cup.
Apart from Brazil and Argentina no South American team has reached the decisive stages of the tournament in recent years, and Chile will be hoping to break this negative statistic. They certainly have the right players and coach to do so, and will intend to translate their qualifying campaign success into the World Cup itself.
Until now Chile's best performance in a World Cup was when they claimed third place when they hosted the tournament back in 1962. The last time they participated in a World Cup was in 1998 when the tournament was held in France. Chile reached the second round, but were eliminated by eventual finalists Brazil.
Gregory Sica, Goal.com
Bielsa has done a great job with this team and I think for sure they will make a postive impression next year in South Africa but if they run into a counter attacking european team I can see them struggle. Brazil who were so poor at the time beat them 3-0 because they are open for direct teams.
